0
Tenjing Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
what is the difference between could and could have here?
A. I could see him clearly but I couldn't hear him.So I went home.
B. When you were in New York ,you could have stayed with my brother.
Both could and could have shows the same meaning 'past possibility '.so what's the difference? Please explain.
B. When you were in New York ,you could have stayed with my brother.
Both could and could have shows the same meaning 'past possibility '.so what's the difference? Please explain.
Top answer
Couldn't in sentence A means "I was not able to" It is not possibility at all. It is inability. Could have in sentence B means possibility in the past.
- Couldn't in sentence A means "I was not able to" It is not possibility at all.
- It is inability.
- Could have in sentence B means possibility in the past.
- It is similar to a conditional construction: If you had been in New York (but you weren't), you could have stayed with my brother.
- When you were in New York, you could have stayed with my brother.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
Couldn't in sentence A means "I was not able to" It is not possibility at all. It is inability.
Could have in sentence B means possibility in the past. It is similar to a conditional construction:
If you had been in New York (but you weren't), you could have stayed with my brother.
When you were in New York, you could have stayed with my brother. (but you didn'
Could have in sentence B means possibility in the past. It is similar to a conditional construction:
If you had been in New York (but you weren't), you could have stayed with my brother.
When you were in New York, you could have stayed with my brother. (but you didn'
00
If I say, " I talked to him because I could hear him clearly ",does it mean I was able to hear him(showing ability in the past).
But I don't think hearing someone is a ability? What is ability? For me ability means if one person can't do what other does, that is ability like I could speak Spanish but my friend could speak Spanish. Am I right? ?
But I don't think hearing someone is a ability? What is ability? For me ability means if one person can't do what other does, that is ability like I could speak Spanish but my friend could speak Spanish. Am I right? ?
00
tenjingIf I say, " I talked to him because I could hear him clearly ",does it mean I was able to hear him(showing ability in the past).Yes.
tenjingBut I don't think hearing someone is a ability? What is ability? For me ability means if one person can't do what other does,Yes. Some people are not able to see. They are blind
00
0
tenjing Thank you. Are you Ms. Or Mr. ?Are you able to guess by looking at my avatar?
0
Related Questions